Jamie Donley has set his sights on adding goals to his international game after a four-game window that brought encouragement for Northern Ireland but left a familiar concern about the side’s ability to score consistently. The 21-year-old Tottenham Hotspur forward started all four matches as a lone striker, even though he has said his more natural position is number 10.
Donley impressed with his ability to push Northern Ireland up the field, drop into space, frustrate the opposition and win free-kicks. But he failed to add to his two international goals, playing 294 minutes across the four games without scoring. Northern Ireland won twice but were held to two goalless home draws, and the lack of a goal from their central striker will be a concern for a young side that has already proved hard to break down at the other end.
The forward, on loan at Luton Town, said he enjoyed playing all four games but was disappointed not to score. “I’ve enjoyed it, playing all four games,” Donley said. “I’m obviously a little bit disappointed not to score. I think that’s my aim role as a striker, but I think Michael [O’Neill] likes me to link the ball up and help with the build-up plays. Hopefully, I can add some goals to my game.”
Donley’s build-up play has been a strength. Comfortable receiving the ball, he has combined well with midfielders and, given his deeper role at club level, is confident dropping back between the lines. But strikers are ultimately judged on getting into goalscoring positions and taking chances, especially when Northern Ireland twice failed to find the net at home in the space of a week.
In the home draw against Hungary, Donley had multiple chances to break the deadlock. He could not connect with Shea Charles’ pass and was then denied by goalkeeper Balazs Toth after heading Ethan Galbraith’s pass towards goal. Against Georgia on Monday night, he barely had a chance, and was already off the pitch by the time Northern Ireland were awarded a penalty, which Isaac Price missed.
Price remains Northern Ireland’s biggest goal threat from an advanced role on the left, and finding an out-and-out number nine has been a problem position for some time, arguably since Kyle Lafferty faded from the international scene. O’Neill has consistently backed Donley, having convinced him to switch his international allegiance from England to the country of his birth last year. Donley has one goal in five appearances for Luton this season, plus international goals against Luxembourg and Wales; he is not expected to be prolific, but O’Neill values what he brings elsewhere.
“I’m not sure I’d say it’s a thankless task, he’s a number nine and that’s what a single striker has to do,” O’Neill said of Donley’s role. “He makes us better as a team. His link-up play is better. He’s an extremely clever player. He probably hasn’t had his reward in terms of chances, but Jamie is a very, very good player and, again, he’s a player that’s only going to get better.”